6th september 2008

Bath Eights

Recreation Ground

Registration 09.30



BROOKLANDS Hulmeians won the Bath Eights, the annual tournament which acts as a curtain-raiser to the new domestic lacrosse season. The Northern Premier Division club beat Cheadle, the 1992 champions, 3-1 in this year''s final at the Recreation Ground.

Hulmeians beat Stockport, also former winners, 5-2 in the semi-finals, having also beaten South of England League champions Hampstead 6-1 in the quarters.

It was the first time that Hulmeians had ever won the competition since it''s inauguration in 1986, their victory over Cheadle deservedly saw them claim the David Carey Cup.



All teams faced six tough group matches, with the top 8 finishes progressing to the quarter-final stages.



Mellor topped the group with 99 points, with Hulmeians just one point behind having not lost a game. Heaton Mersey finished third, with Cheadle, Wilmslow, Stockport, Hampstead - the only southern side in the quarters - and Sheffield also progressing.



Mellor beat Sheffield 4-1 to progress to the semis, with wins also for Hulmeians, Cheadle and Stockport, the latter who edged local rivals Heaton Mersey 3-2 after overtime.



The semis saw Hulmeians overpower Stockport 5-2, with Cheadle slender 1-0 winners against Mellor.



And so to the final where Hulmeians maintain their 100 per cent record to beat Cheadle and win their first piece of silverware of the season.



Sadly we had to cancel Sunday''s mixed tournament because the pitches had cut up a lot because of the heavy rain. Hopefully the weather will be better for us next season. After all in 23 years this was only the third time it has rained at all.



A huge thanks has to go to the helpers who sold Burgers/beer/raffle tickets/T shirts. All profits from the eights goes to the Junior development programme and without it things would be very tight financially.

Results

Bath Eights Tournament (Recreation Ground) - Final: Brooklands Hulmeians 3 Cheadle 1. Semis: Mellor 0 Cheadle 1, Brooklands Hulmeians 5 Stockport 2. Quarters: Mellor 4 Sheffield 1, Cheadle 3 Wilmslow 1, Brooklands Hulmeians 6 Hampstead 1, Heaton Mersey 2 Stockport 3 (after overtime).



Final group standings (top 8 after all six group games): 1. Mellor 99pts, 2. Brooklands Hulmeians 98pts, 3. Heaton Mersey 95pts, 4. Cheadle 93pts, 5. Wilmslow 87pts, 6, Stockport 83pts, 7. Hampstead 79pts, 8. Sheffield 76pts.



Teams entered this year (total 33): Bath City, Bramhall, Croydon, Rochdale Cowboys, Rochdale Indians, Walcountian Blues A and B, Hillcroft, Sheffield University Alumni, Norbury, Stockport, Cheadle, Nottingham, Reading Wildcats, Manchester Waconians, Heaton Mersey, Bath University, Wilmslow, Swansea Hawks, York, Timperley, Welwyn Warriors, Bath Exiles, Hitchin, Mellor, Oldham and Werneth, Brooklands Hulmeians, Newcastle, Cardiff Harlequins, Sheffield University, Hampstead, Loughborough University and Cheltenham Cougars.